By J’Ne Clapper Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor

Medical Cannabis is finally gaining some traction as a treatment option for many chronic illnesses, including (but definitely not limited to) inflammation/ pain (1), mental health disorders (2) (PTSD, C-PTSD, anxiety/ depression, etc.), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (3), Fibromyalgia (4), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (5). Just in the last five years, the scientific evidence for medical Cannabis in helping to relieve symptoms associated with chronic illnesses has skyrocketed. There’s even more anecdotal evidence than ever before, and for many of the claims, it’s just a matter of time before we have the scientific data to back those claims up. This is especially true in regard to acute illnesses.

Navigating the Evidence Gap: Leveraging ECN Testimonial Blogs to Explore Personal Experiences with Medical Cannabis

As a Newsletter focused on education about medical Cannabis to treat conditions, it can present a challenge to find a solid study backing up what one or several patients have anecdotally experienced. Our testimonial blogs can sometimes provide insights into a person’s experience with Cannabis, despite the lack of current studies on treating these ailments with Cannabis.

Experts in the field of cannabinoid medicine are not only doctors, pharmacists, and nurses but are also certified Cannabis coaches and educators as well. Our directory is full of Cannabis experts who would be more than happy to help you get started on your quest for better health and wellness through cannabinoid medicine. So if you are new to Cannabis, this is a great place to start. By dedicating time to rigorous study and adhering to the guidance of experts in the field, we can gradually uncover the significance of incorporating a protective protocol of cannabinoid medicine.

Exploring the Protective Role of Medical Cannabis in Acute Illness Prevention

Here’s an idea… instead of looking under every rock for evidence that medical Cannabis could help to treat specific acute illnesses, what about approaching our well-being from a more proactive standpoint? Why not supplement with Cannabis as a means to protect the Endocannabinoid System (6) and to prevent the acute illness from manifesting in the first place? We do this with other immune-boosting herbal supplements, so why would Cannabis be any different?

Case in point… I’ve been working with my little brother to reduce his overall pain and inflammation (7). He’s 37 and has a physically demanding job. He has been feeling pain relief with a nightly dose of THC, THCa, CBDa, and CBGa since the beginning of May. He recently revealed to me that he stopped taking his nightly dose of cannabinoids. He reported feeling much better and had way less pain, so he didn’t feel the need to continue on his regimen. He discontinued his regular use around July 1st, about a month after being on a consistent protocol.

That was so wonderful to hear; Cannabis had relieved his symptoms so much that he felt he no longer needed it! Last week, however, he tweaked his back while working. He had been off his regimen for about 2-½ weeks at this point.

My immediate thought was, “If he would have just stayed on a protective dose of cannabinoids, could he have helped to prevent, or at least decrease, the impact of damage from the acute back pain that followed?” The personal experiences of my husband and I were enough to elicit such an automatic thought response.

Personal Experience: A Compelling Case for the Protective Benefits of Cannabinoid Medicine

However, as patients of cannabinoid medicine for two years (1 year for my husband), we have noticed a wonderful anomaly with both my husband and me… since we started on a regular regimen of cannabinoid medicine (including CBDa, CBD, CBGa, CBG, THCa, THC), our cases of acute illnesses have dropped dramatically. We have been able to almost completely avoid Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (8) from all of our workouts. I have found relief for allergy flare-ups, and PMS Symptoms since they are so rare these days, I can typically pinpoint to reason for the inflammatory flare-up (mostly occurring after a day or sequence of days of poor diet and sedentary activities), PMS symptoms (9) (including headaches, backaches, cramping, etc.), colds (10), stomach aches (11), and nausea (12). 

In the past, all of these ailments used to be a regular part of both of our lives, yet after 1 and 2 years of cannabinoid medicine use, we find ourselves experiencing these illnesses much less frequently. So infrequent that they are now memorable occurrences. This aspect is great because now if any returning pain or an acute issue arises, we can start addressing it before it turns chronic or into something even more serious.

Leveraging the Endocannabinoid System with Medical Cannabis

So instead of looking at what medical Cannabis can treat, perhaps we should be looking at what it could help prevent, especially if acute illnesses are a regular guest in your life. Acute illnesses, just like chronic illnesses, are birthed in the presence of unbalance in our bodies. When environmental or internal stressors push a given bodily system to its limit, the body’s only option is to manifest this in dis-ease. So the more balanced and adaptable our body is to these internal and environmental stressors, the higher likelihood of our bodies protecting us from an acute episode of illness (13). Cannabis is known to assist in this very balance, as it primarily interacts with our Endocannabinoid System (ECS), the largest neurotransmitter system in our body responsible for modulating every other system in our bodies. So the better your ECS tone (14), the more likely your body can ward off acute illnesses, as well as chronic issues.

Fortifying Recovery: The Potential of Phytocannabinoids in Acute Injury Healing

Of course, there are some acute illnesses that you will have no control over, like a sprained ankle or broken bone. But with the supplemental phytocannabinoids floating around, I see this as being potentially an extra layer of protection. When we break a bone or sprain a muscle, our body immediately produces endocannabinoids on site to assist in the healing process. Dr. Bonnie Goldstein (15) , a current pioneer in cannabinoid medicine, sums it up perfectly, “Plant cannabinoids are well-known to be very safe and to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. In cases of endocannabinoid deficiency, cannabis use may be the correcting compound, eliminating the symptoms of the condition. Regular cannabis use can decrease chronic inflammation and buildup of free radicals, both of which are thought to be the root causes of many conditions, including autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.” 

Elevating Health Protection: Medical Cannabis in the Fight Against Acute Ailments

So when contemplating a cannabinoid medicine regimen, please keep this thought in mind, especially if Cannabis is proving to alleviate your ailments to the point of no longer needing Cannabis. A protective low daily dose of cannabinoids could be just what is needed to prevent you from catching a cold that your kid brought home from school or to help your recovery time to heal from a sprained ankle or that intense session at the gym. The sooner you get the cannabinoid medicine in you, the better the potential for a faster recovery time and greater outcome from your acute illnesses. 

References:

1. Zogopoulos, Panagiotis et al. “The role of endocannabinoids in pain modulation.” Fundamental & clinical pharmacology vol. 27,1 (2013): 64-80. doi:10.1111/fcp.12008

2. Khan, Rabia et al. “The therapeutic role of Cannabidiol in mental health: a systematic review.” Journal of cannabis research vol. 2,1 2. 2 Jan. 2020, doi:10.1186/s42238-019-0012-y

3. Brugnatelli, Viola et al. “Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Manipulating the Endocannabinoid System as First-Line Treatment.” Frontiers in neuroscience vol. 14 371. 21 Apr. 2020, doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00371

4. Berger, Amnon A et al. “Cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of fibromyalgia.” Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology vol. 34,3 (2020): 617-631. doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.010

5. Gerard, Arielle. “Cannabis-Based Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis.” Cannabis-Based Treatments For Multiple Sclerosis, 16 Jan. 2015, www.medicaljane.com/2014/06/08/cannabis-classroom-cannabis-based-medicine-for-patients-living-with-multiple-sclerosis/.

6. Grinspoon, Peter, “The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious by Dr. Grinspoon.” The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious by Dr. Grinspoon, www.effectivenewsletter.com/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-by-dr-peter-grinspoon. Accessed 20 July 2023.  

7. Hill, Kevin P et al. “Cannabis and Pain: A Clinical Review.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 2,1 96-104. 1 May. 2017, doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017

8. Russo, Sarah. “The Influence CBD on Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness.” Society of Cannabis Clinicians, 22 Apr. 2020, www.cannabisclinicians.org/2020/03/01/the-influence-cannabidiol-on-delayed-onset-of-muscle-soreness/. 

9. “Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) Will Cannabis Help Ease the Pain Associated with PMS? Find out Here.” Veriheal, 17 May 2023, www.veriheal.com/conditions/pre-menstrual-syndrome-pms/#:~:text=Cannabis%20has%20been%20used%20for,%2C%20headaches%2C%20and%20back%20pain. 

10. Mzimmerman. “Can Cannabis Cure the Common Cold?” HelloMD, 24 Dec. 2022, www.hellomd.com/articles/can-cannabis-cure-the-common-cold/. 

11. Bogale, Kaleb et al. “Cannabis and Cannabis Derivatives for Abdominal Pain Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Medical cannabis and cannabinoids vol. 4,2 97-106. 21 Jun. 2021, doi:10.1159/000517425

12. Stith, Sarah S et al. “The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea.” Journal of clinical gastroenterology vol. 56,4 (2022): 331-338. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001534

13. Lowe, Henry et al. “The Endocannabinoid System: A Potential Target for the Treatment of Various Diseases.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 22,17 9472. 31 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijms22179472

14. McPartland, John M et al. “Care and feeding of the endocannabinoid system: a systematic review of potential clinical interventions that upregulate the endocannabinoid system.” PloS one vol. 9,3 e89566. 12 Mar. 2014, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089566

15. Goldstein, Bonni. “Should You Use Cannabis to Prevent Illness?” Project CBD, 15 Apr. 2023, projectcbd.org/health/should-you-use-cannabis-to-prevent-illness/. 

About J’Ne Clapper:

J’Né Clapper is a Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor with continuing education in the fitness, nutrition and Cannabis education industry. Her personal experience and success with Cannabinoid Medicine have moved her to educate as many people with the truth about Medical Cannabis and to integrate this plant medicine into other wellness coaching areas of her career. She is an intern and a regularly contributing advocate to the Effective Cannabis Newsletter.

Contact J’Ne through the e-mail link below to learn more about her services.

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Effective Cannabis Newsletter is a platform to educate on the vital role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in one’s health. The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in or available through this newsletter is for general information purposes only. It is not medical advice; it is health awareness.